124394/EU XXIV. GP Eingelangt am 11/09/13 COUNCIL OF Brussels, 10 September 2013 THE EUROPEAN UNION (OR. en) 13497/13 COMPET 638 MI 744 COVER NOTE From: Secretary-General of the European Commission, signed by Mr Jordi AYET PUIGARNAU, Director date of receipt: 1 August 2013 To: Mr Uwe CORSEPIUS, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union No. Cion doc.: SWD(2013) 401 final Subject: COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT): Initial Results of the Mapping of the Acquis Delegations will find attached document SWD(2013) 401 final. Encl.: SWD(2013) 401 final 13497/13 MS/ll DG G 3A EN EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 1.8.2013 SWD(2013) 401 final COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT): Initial Results of the Mapping of the Acquis EN EN Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 4 1. Agriculture and Rural Development ............................................................................................... 5 2. Budget ........................................................................................................................................... 14 3. Climate Action .............................................................................................................................. 17 4. Communications Networks, Content and Technology .................................................................. 20 5. Competition Policy ........................................................................................................................ 27 6. Education, Training, Youth, Culture and Sport ............................................................................. 33 7. Economic and Financial Affairs .................................................................................................... 35 8. Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion ................................................................................... 37 9. Energy ........................................................................................................................................... 46 10. Enterprise and Industry ................................................................................................................. 53 11. Environment .................................................................................................................................. 58 12. Statistics ........................................................................................................................................ 67 13. Home Affairs ................................................................................................................................. 72 14. Justice ............................................................................................................................................ 79 15. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries ...................................................................................................... 85 16. Internal Market and Services ......................................................................................................... 91 17. Development Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection and Enlargement ............... 102 18. Taxation and Customs Union ...................................................................................................... 108 19. Health and Consumer Policy ....................................................................................................... 115 20. Trade ............................................................................................................................................ 125 21. Mobility and Transport ................................................................................................................ 129 22. Anti-Fraud ................................................................................................................................... 136 23. Cohesion Policy ........................................................................................................................... 139 24. Summary Lists of Suggested Actions .......................................................................................... 144 2 24.1. Commission Proposals (Regulatory Fitness Focus) awaiting adoption by (Co-) Legislator 144 24.2. Commission Initiatives (Regulatory Fitness Focus) in Preparation ................................ 147 24.3. Indicative List of Regulations for repeal (Regulatory Fitness Focus) ............................. 150 24.4. Indicative List of Commission Proposals to be withdrawn following a regulatory Fitness Assessment ...................................................................................................................................... 151 24.5. List of Evaluations and Impact Assessments with Regulatory Fitness Focus ................. 152 Note: Items relevant for the Top10 Consultation are marked "*". 3 COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT): Initial Results of the Mapping of the Acquis INTRODUCTION In its Communication on EU Regulatory Fitness of December 20121 the Commission committed to strengthening its various smart regulation tools (impact assessment, evaluation, stakeholder consultation) and launched the Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT). Through REFIT, the Commission services have mapped the entire EU legislative stock looking to identify burdens, gaps and inefficient or ineffective measures including possibilities for simplification or repeal. In this document, the initial outcome of the mapping and screening exercise undertaken by the Commission services is presented. In each area, an overview is provided of the policy and legislative framework, smart regulation tools and measures taken to ensure that legislation is 'fit for purpose' (including responses to concerns of SMEs).2 On this basis, the document suggests that consideration be given to further actions envisaged to ensure regulatory fitness. These include: x Proposals already tabled by the Commission with a regulatory fitness focus where the EU legislator needs to take action; x Proposals for legislative review with a regulatory fitness focus; This working document has not been adopted by the Commission. As a Commission staff Working Document, it describes the results of the work done by the Directorates General of the Commission in preparation for a Commission Communication to be adopted in October which will review and set out the next steps in Regulatory Fitness Policy and Programme. 1 COM(2012)746 final 2 The Commission's follow-up to the main concerns raised by SMEs and stakeholders in the context of the 'Top10 Consultation of the most burdensome EU legislative acts for SMEs' was published in COM (2013)446 final. 4 1. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 1. Policy and legislative responsibilities in the area of Agriculture and Rural Development The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was set up to achieve the Treaty objectives of agricultural productivity, a fair standard of living for agricultural communities, stabilised markets and the availability of supplies at reasonable prices.3 The CAP is not a regulatory policy as such, though it includes elements of regulatory nature, such as competition rules and marketing standards. Funding schemes, under which farmers and others can apply for support and grants make up most of the policy. Those who obtain funding have to meet certain obligations. The following instruments are at the core of the CAP acquis: x The common market organisation, called the ‘Single CMO’4, which establishes instruments to guarantee the stability of markets for agricultural products. The Commission has adopted specific implementing rules for different product sectors. x A system for direct payments5 that provides farmers with a basic level of income. x The rural development policy6, which provides voluntary support measures that are targeted to national and regional specificities for the enhancement of the competitiveness of the farm sector, the sustainable management of natural resources and climate action, and the balanced territorial development of rural areas. The CAP legislation also establishes specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the EU, support for information and promotion measures, quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs as well as rules on organic production.7 The rules on 3 Cf. Art. 39 (1) Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 4 Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) 5 Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers 6 Cf. Council Regulation (EC) No 74/2009 of 19 January 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) 7 Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in the outermost regions of the Union; Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 of 17 December 2007 on information